Rain showers failed to rain on our parade as Aida, Chico, Ferlino, Mari, Tessa and myself started on our fourth perimeter walk.

Kualoa Beach Park

Waiting for the bus as a couple friends failed to wake up in time. The show must go on.

Route 60

Chico catching up on the news.

Chings’ Punaluu Store

Walking on the right side of the road. Or is that the left side?

Punalu’u

Why did the hiker cross the road? To climb a tree.

Kaya’s Store

Sampling the blueberry cheesecake at the family store that was founded in 1946 and started as a hardware and butcher store.

Wat Lao Buddha Sacksith

Praying at entrance to the Laotian Buddhist temple.

Punalu’u

I don’t think there are enough trees in the day for Ferlino to climb them all.

Punalu’u

Bridge walking when there are no sidewalks.

Sacred Falls Park

Taking a photo in front of the park whose trail leads to the now shuttered Sacred Falls. Back on Mother’s Day in 1999, a rockslide killed 8 people and left dozens injured. It has been opined by some that gulch hikes are vastly more dangerous than ridge hike due to the enclosed environment and unpredictable weather and terrain conditions. I am in total agreement. That is why I mostly stick to ridge hiking.

Ching Tong Leong Store

She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely sea shells. So if she sells shells on the sea shore, I’m sure she sells seashore shells.

Hau’ula

Tessa testing her balance on the tree.

Hau’ula

Group photo on the coconut tree.

Hau’ula

360 degree view of us coconuts sitting on the tree.

Hau’ula

If you can’t climb onto the tree, might as well hang upside down from it.

Hau’ula

It was time to make like a coconut, and fall out of the tree.

Hau’ula

Somebody needs to get with the program.

Slurpee Stop

Thanks to Chico for the free carbonated frozen beverages first made by the chain back in 1966.

Hau’ula

Passing by a red hibiscus flower that was the original flower of the territory of Hawaii, until 1988 when the yellow flower was designated the official state flower.

Hau’ula

I’m guessing the slurpee didn’t sit well with Chico.

Hau’ula

Passing by one of many wooden carved statues that represent certain figures that in turn represent their mana or power.

Laie

Somebody said it tastes like dirt and besides, it wasn’t the type of free samples he was looking for.

Laie

I thought his last name was Tongi? His first name is actually William. The singing phenom was the first Pacific Islander to win the 2023 American Idol. Priced out of paradise was the reason his family had to move to Washington. Maybe now they can afford to move back.

Laie

Bunch of swingers.

Laie

No open house today. We are not descendants.

Laie

There’s more than one way to husk a coconut.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Posing in front of some tiki statues in front of the tourist attraction that was built in 1963 to promote the Polynesian culture.

Laie

Bathroom break.

Laie Shopping Center

The security guard made sure we operated the shopping cart in a safe manner. No alcohol was involved as this was a “dry” town.

Laie Hawaii Temple

Passing by the first Mormon temple built outside the mainland back in 1919.

Malaekahana Bike Path

Stepping foot on the bike path that links Laie with Kahuku and was built to encourage exercise in the communities and keep people off the roads.

Malaekahana Bike Path

Looking over at the huge 568′ rotating wind turbines that have been a source of controversy due to the hoary bats being killed by them and the close proximity to homes.

Malaekahana Bike Path

The path was long and hot, but at least it kept us out of harms way. No horses came out to play.

Kahuku

Taking a break at the bus stop from the withering heat.

Kahuku

Hello 911? I need to speak to the po … never mind.

Kahuku

The poke was overrated, but the garlic shrimp lived up to its billing.

Kahuku

Admiring a restored VW Beetle that had its origins in Germany when Adolph Hitler instructed Ferdinand Porsche to design and produce a people’s car (volkswagen) back in 1934. The end of WW2 could have spelled the end of the Beetle, had it not been for the British Army that needed cars during the post war era and thus started up the production line to fill the demand.

Kahuku

Group photo next to the train that the termites will eat.

Kahuku

Passing the “other” shrimp place, that a lot of people say taste better than Giovanni’s. Gasp. Blasphemy. Well, depends on who you talk to.

James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge

This area that was established in 1976, protects one of the few remaining wetlands on the island that are home to a host of endemic and endangered marine life. I’m not sure these two are on the list.

All pau

Everybody got three dollars?

McDonald’s

Ending the day with a McDonald’s McFlurry to cool ourselves off.

GPS Tracks

Our hot as heck walk covered 10.3 miles with a fun group.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

I met up with Gen, Glenn, Jose and Justin to do some exploring on the North Shore. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trailhead

We passed the revolving graffiti wall on our way to the Ma’akua Ridge Trail.

Sunrise

The sun breaking over the town of Hauula.

Bench

Group photo by Justin Hirako, left to right: Jose, Gen, Justin, Glenn and myself.

Papali Ridge

We left the loop trail and headed up the ridge.

Rope Log

There were no rope and no log. What the heck is this thing?

Papali Ridge

The trail started like a typical ridge hike, multiple short ups …

Papali Ridge

… and downs.

Papali Ridge

The trail was surprisingly clear. The uluhell was only ankle high. Ankle biters.

Papali Ridge

Spoke too soon. Glenn wading through waist high uluhell.

Coastal view

Looking back at the coastal communities of Hauula, Laie and Kahuku.

Papali Ridge

Group photo at the Papali junction. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail snacks

Gen munching on uki grass. A good source of dietary fiber.

Papali Ridge

Justin approaching the saddle.

Papali Ridge

Ferns and fungus growing out of a fallen tree.

Mountain of dreams

Dirty yoga. Wrong in so many ways. Photos by Justin Hirako.

Papali Ridge

The ridge became a steady chore going up.

Papali Ridge

Justin and Glenn making their way up.

Ridges and Valleys

We soon noticed a fresh looking cut trail going down into the valley.

Costco Hot Dog

Glenn sucking down the mustard like there’s no tomorrow to combat his cramps.

Trail Junction

A sign pointed to the trail we had just been checking out from the top of the ridge.

Trail

The trail looked like it had been recently cleared. Lucky us.

Bare Tree

A lonely tree shorn of its leaves.

Moss Trees

The trail switch backed through a forest of moss covered trees.

Leap of faith

One had no faith. One went blindly. One went with eyes wide open.

Trail

Gen and Jose checking out the stream below the trail.

Kaluanui Stream

White hibiscus lined the banks of the stream.

Kaluanui Stream

Group photo by Justin Hirako.

Kaluanui Stream

We dumped our packs and decided to do some exploring.

Kaluanui Stream

Glenn rock hopping down the stream.

Kaluanui Stream

What’s around the corner?

Waterfall

Waterfall! Photo by Justin Hirako.

Tours

Helicopters frequently buzzed the valley during our short stay. We waved. They waved back.

Waterfall

Noticed a couple of old rappelling anchors at the top. No ropes. No rappel.

Waterfall

We contoured our way down to the base of the waterfall. Group photo by Justin Hirako. Hey, where did the other two go?

Kaluanui Stream

If only we had more time to explore downstream.

Sunning

We made our way back upstream to find Jose sleeping soundly on a rock. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

We refilled our camelbacks from the stream and picked up the trail on the opposite side of the banks.

Construction

Stopped to check out the site of a future cabin? Group photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Leaving the stream behind us.

Trail

Looking out towards the ocean.

Notch

I can’t go any higher. Something might rip. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Notch

Justin squeezed through horizontally and vertically. Photo by Genesaret Balladares.

Punalu’u Valley

Click here for the larger image.

Trail

The trail was completely overgrown with towering pink fringe flower vines. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Going under and around strawberry guava trees. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Heading down into Punalu’u Valley. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trail

Some overgrown sections were so thick that we had to crawl on our hands and knees.

Trail

Justin used sheer momentum and mass to break through.

Trail

Passing underneath a tangled thicket of tree branches. Luckily we didn’t have to go through them.

Trail

Between a hard rock wall and a drop off. Walk carefully.

Detour

Looked like a section of the original trail got closed down. Possibly due to a landslide?

Detour

Gen going down the detour trail.

Trail

The detour trail soon dropped us back to the switchbacks.

Road

We followed the sign that pointed to a road further down. Talk about taking a spur ridge down instead, dissipated with the fact that darkness would soon cover us and we didn’t know the lay of the land.

Trail

Gen wading through head high uluhell.

Trail

Flower girl.

Trail

Glenn making his way under and over thickets of tree branches. That road can’t come soon enough.

All pau

We made our way down off the ridge, passed through the valley populated with farms and palatial houses until we popped out on the road. Photo by Justin Hirako.

GPS Tracks

Our hiking mileage varied, depending on whose tracking app you asked, 9.85 or 11.01 miles. Either way, it was quite an epic day hiking in the mountains with a fun crew. We even had a “valet” that was watching our truck. Glenn gave him some cash and a job referral for his “troubles.” Post hike meal at Zippy’s.

Chris took Jasmin and myself to what many would argue is the island’s most impressive waterfall – Kaliuwa’a Falls, located between Hau’ula and Punalu’u.

Nice day at the beach

It was also a beautiful day to be basking or swimming at the beach, but we were chasing a waterfall today. Photo by Chris Hiona.

Follow the trail

We followed the trail into the eerily empty park.

Passing the Board of Water Pumping Station

The only other soul we had for company was a BOW (Board of Water) employee that came to check the pumping station in the park.

Take the left fork

We followed the gravel road as it turned left towards the valley.

Headed into the valley

The gravel road turned into a grassy trail as we headed deeper towards the valley.

First stream crossing

Pushing through the chest high grass, we came across the first stream crossing.

Boulder road

We passed through several large boulders wedged against each other. There was also a smaller area above the boulders that looked like home for one or several pu’a or pigs. This valley is also associated with the Hawaiian demigod known as Kamapua’a, who was half-pig and half-man.

Follow the stream

We paralleled Kaluanui stream on the well-trodden path.

Second stream crossing

Looking across the stream, we saw a rope tied on a tree branch that served as a trail marker to cross over to continue the trail. The waters were relatively calm and shallow, which made for safe passage. Not safe crossing during and after heavy rains, as it would turn the stream into a flash flood of whitewater.

Pohaku laulau

Further down the trail, we came across a boulder with a pile of naked rocks and pohaku laulau (rocks wrapped in ti leaves). Some critics argue that wrapping ti leaves around rocks and offering them as prayers or offerings, is a corruption of the practice of  Ho’okupu where Hawaiians wrap ti leaves around real food and not rocks, as offerings.

Claustrophobic?

 We came to the point where the valley walls significantly narrowed to claustrophobic proportions.

Dry chute

A trickle of water coming down this otherwise massive dry waterfall chute.

Close

 We walked around the chute and saw the falls up ahead, along with tour choppers buzzing overhead.

Closer

If it wasn’t for the annoying sound of the choppers interrupting the atmosphere and ambience of the waterfalls, it would have been picture perfect.

Close enough

Another concern was that the sound from the helicopters were being amplified by the narrow canyon and ping ponging off the canyon walls, something that could trigger rock slides. Not good, especially in a confined space where there was no room to run.

Kaliuwa’a Falls

Group photo at Kaliuwa’a Falls left to right: Jasmin, myself and Chris. See all the assorted size rocks on the ground? It came from somewhere. Up.

Two waterfalls

 I managed to catch a second, smaller waterfall that was cascading down the left canyon wall.

The way out

Leaving the narrow canyon that was indeed home to an impressive waterfall. Photo by Chris Hiona.

Park closed

As we made our way back out to Kamehameha Highway, signs that we somehow missed coming in stated that the park was closed and hefty fines was the punishment. Oops. Upon doing some research, Kaliuwa’a Falls which is better known as Sacred Falls, was the scene of a rockslide back in 1999 that claimed eight lives and injured 50+ others. The State shut down the park and falls several days later and remains closed to the public.